Drunken sexual harassment fear for students

WITH Fresher’s Week in full swing, new research from alcohol education charity Drinkaware finds that students in the North West want universities to do more to tackle drunken sexual harassment.

The research carried out by ICM for Drinkaware finds more than three quarters of students in the region think universities should take disciplinary action against perpetrators of drunken sexual harassment with over half wanting their university to campaign against it and 54 per cent saying there should be counselling for those affected.

Almost two in five said they had received inappropriate sexual comments or abuse or inappropriate sexual touching on a night out, usually in nightclubs, bars or pubs in the towns they live in while at university.

Almost two-fifths of those who experienced drunken sexual harassment said this type of behaviour happens most times or every time they go on a night out, leaving them feeling disgusted, angry and afraid. The research comes as Drinkaware’s “You wouldn’t sober, you shouldn’t drunk” campaign, aimed at tackling drunken sexual harassment, starts a second run.